Adaptive memory cell write conditions

ABSTRACT

A method and related apparatus for using an indication of RRAM cell resistance to determine a write condition are disclosed. A cell characteristic of an RRAM cell is determined to a finer resolution than a data read value. A write condition is selected for the RRAM cell, based on the cell characteristic. The RRAM cell is written to, using the selected write condition.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371of PCT Application No. PCT/US2017/052761, filed on Sep. 21, 2017 , whichis based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/397,631, filed on Sep. 21, 2016 and entitled “Adaptive WriteMethod for Resistive Random Access Memory.” The above-referencedapplications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Non-volatile memory is a type of memory device that can storeinformation even after loss of power. Non-volatile memory (NVM) devicescan be read only memory or random access memory (RAM) and may usevarious technologies. One category of non-volatile RAM is resistive RAM,including technologies such as filamentary resistive random accessmemory (RRAM or ReRAM) cells, interfacial RRAM cells, magnetoresistiveRAM (MRAM) cells, phase change memory (PCM) cells (e.g., chalcogenidesincluding alloys of germanium, antimony, and tellurium), memristormemory elements, and programmable metallization cells (e.g., conductivebridging RAM (CBRAM) cell). Turning to RRAM, a resistive filament isformed when the RRAM cell is set, and the resistive filament is brokenwhen the RRAM cell is reset. The resistive filament, when formed, lowersthe resistance of the RRAM cell. Thus, each RRAM cell has a lowresistance state (LRS) when the filament is formed and a higherresistance state (HRS) when the filament is broken. The LRS and HRS areretained during power off and can represent binary values stored by theRRAM cell. The RRAM cell is a promising non-volatile memory device forembedded and standalone applications due to its fast operation time andlow power performance. RRAM cells, however, can demonstrate largeresistance variation in the resistance levels of their LRS and theresistance of their HRS. Inevitably, this will lead to some cells havinga higher LRS resistance than other cells' HRS resistance, which cancreate issues during operation. For example, it may be desired to haveLRS resistance in the range of K ohm to tens of K ohms, or a tighterrange, and HRS resistance in the range of hundreds of K ohms to gigohms, or a tighter range. The resistance variation can also lead to awide resistance distribution for intermediate states (IMS) used formulti-level cell states (MLC)). A wide resistance distribution can makememory array design and use difficult.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be understood more fully from the detaileddescription given below and from the accompanying drawings of variousembodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an RRAM array with write control, using an indicationof RRAM cell resistance to determine a write condition, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a current mirror and current control which can beused in the word line control of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an analog feedback circuit that controls word linevoltage in order to limit current in a selected RRAM cell, which can beused in embodiments of the RRAM array with write control.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for variations of the write control system andcircuitry of FIGS. 1-3, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for an analog-to-digital converter and digitalcircuitry that generates control signals for embodiments of the writecontrol system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a flow diagram of a method for writing to an RRAM cell,according to an embodiment of a write control system.

FIG. 6B is a flow diagram of a further method for writing to an RRAMcell, according to an embodiment of a write control system.

FIG. 6C is a flow diagram of a further method for writing to an RRAMcell, according to an embodiment of a write control system.

FIG. 6D is a flow diagram of a further method for writing to an RRAMcell, according to an embodiment of a write control system.

FIG. 6E is a flow diagram of a further method for writing to an RRAMcell, according to an embodiment of a write control system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, various aspects of the illustrativeembodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by thoseskilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to othersskilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that the present disclosure may be practiced with only some of thedescribed aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers,materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. In otherinstances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not toobscure the illustrative embodiments. Although various embodimentsdescribed herein are described with respect to RRAM cells, in otherembodiments, these technologies can be used in other memorytechnologies, both filamentary and non-filamentary. Examples includeCBRAM cells, interfacial RRAM cells, MRAM cells, PCM cells, or otherprogrammable metallization cells.

Embodiments of write control for an RRAM cell or RRAM array, includingmethods and electronic circuits for memory devices, adjust a writecondition when writing to the RRAM cell, to control resistivity of theRRAM cell in the high resistance state and/or low resistance state andreduce resistance variation as compared to uncontrolled or unadjustedwriting. One goal for such an adaptive write method is to improveresistance distributions and reduce the number of “tail bits” (RRAMcells with undesired resistance values that are out of a desired rangefor a specific state, i.e., LRS and HRS). Multiple variants of writecontrol are described, including analog feedback and look up table-basedembodiments. These variants can include the actions of, determining acharacteristic of the RRAM cell relating to RRAM cell resistance,controlling the write condition based on the characteristic of the RRAMcell, and writing to the RRAM cell using the adjusted write condition.

In one embodiment, an RRAM cell in a high resistance state but withresistance at the lower end of the HRS resistance range receives aweaker set condition. An RRAM cell in a high resistance state but withresistance at the higher end of the HRS resistance range receives astronger set condition. An RRAM cell in a low resistance state but withresistance at the lower end of the LRS resistance range receives astronger reset condition. And, an RRAM cell in a low resistance statebut with resistance at the higher end of the LRS resistance rangereceives a weaker reset condition.

Control of the write conditions, i.e. the set conditions and resetconditions, acts to reduce the range of resistance in the highresistance state RRAM cells and the range of resistance in the lowresistance state RRAM cells. In turn, reducing the ranges of resistancemay reduce error, increase noise immunity and/or support more stableread operation for various sense amplifiers over process, voltage andtemperature variations, thus improving system reliability for RRAMarrays.

FIG. 1 illustrates an RRAM array 102 with write control, using anindication of RRAM cell resistance to determine a write condition. Acolumn multiplexer (mux) 118 and word line (WL) drivers 120 select anRRAM cell for reading or writing. Reading determines the existing stateof the resistor 104, i.e., resistive filament, in the RRAM cell. Writingto the RRAM cell sets or resets the resistor 104, i.e., programs theresistive state of the resistive filament. In some embodiments, in theRRAM array 102, an RRAM cell is composed of a resistor 104 and atransistor 106, which is an N type metal oxide semiconductor fieldeffect transistor (NMOS FET) in the embodiment shown.

To read the selected RRAM cell, the word line drivers 120 express a readaccess voltage, controlled by word line control 140, on a selected wordline 108, and the read sense amplifier 122 senses the cell current(Icell) 130, or cell voltage in further embodiments. Cell current 130 isdirected by the column multiplexer 118, through the common bit line bus114 (BBL), a selected bit line 110 (e.g., BL0), the selected RRAM cell,the selected source line (e.g., SL0) and the common source line bus(BSL). In one embodiment, the read sense amplifier 122 applies a readvoltage to the selected bitline and hence across the selected cell,which generates the read current, i.e., cell current (Icell) 130. Theread sense amplifier 122 then senses this cell current (Icell) 130,either through directly measuring or comparing the current, or by othertechniques that may involve a voltage discharge, for example.

To write the selected RRAM cell, the word line drivers 120 express awrite access voltage, controlled by the word line control 140, on aselected word line 108, and the write driver 128 expresses write voltageand write current across and through the common bit line bus and commonsource line bus to the selected RRAM cell, as directed by the columnmultiplexer 118. By controlling word line voltage, write driver 128output voltage and/or current, or timing of one or more pulses, invarious combinations in various embodiments, the programmed resistivityor resistance of the selected RRAM cell (more specifically, the resistor104) can be controlled.

A measurement circuit 124 determines a characteristic of the selectedRRAM cell, related to resistance. In other words, a characteristic ofthe selected RRAM cell such as a voltage, current or timing is measured,and from this, aspects of cell resistance are inferred and acted upon,or the resistance or a value proportional to the resistance is obtainedor estimated, for example by calculation. Typically, the characteristicrelates to or is a proxy for the resistance programmed into the RRAMcell, more specifically into the resistor 104, from a previous writeoperation. This cell characteristic, or measurement, is of a finerresolution than the binary value produced by the read sense amplifier122, as the data read value of the RRAM cell. The data read value is onebit, for an SLC (single level cell) RRAM cell, and two or more bits foran MLC (multilevel cell) RRAM cell. By contrast, the cell characteristiccan be an analog voltage or current of the RRAM cell, or a time value,or digitized value of a voltage, current or time value to a higher bitresolution than the data read value. Voltage and current of the RRAMcell each relate to the resistance of the RRAM cell. In a furtherembodiment, a voltage is divided by current to obtain resistance, or avalue proportional to resistance, of the RRAM cell. Alternatively,current could be divided by voltage to obtain an inverse resistance, orvalue proportional to inverse resistance, of the RRAM cell. In a stillfurther embodiment, the sense time to read the selected RRAM cell varieswith resistance of the RRAM cell and is used as the cell characteristic.Sense time could be represented in an analog value, or digitized. In yetanother embodiment, a current could be forced on the bit line and theresulting voltage measured as the characteristic of the selected RRAMcell. These measurements and determinations can be performed usinganalog circuitry, or analog-to-digital conversion and digital circuitry,in various combinations in various embodiments. Other measurements,measurement circuits and measurement techniques are possible, fordetermining a cell characteristic that relates to and is a proxy forresistance of the RRAM cell.

Based on the determined cell characteristic, a determining circuit 144,which includes the measurement circuit 124, produces a write control142. The determining circuit 144 could include analog, digital or mixedcircuitry that selects or controls a voltage, a current and/or timing.The write control 142, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, is an input totiming/pulse control 126, the write driver 128, and the word linecontrol 140. In further embodiments, the write control 142 could be aninput to one or two of the above modules, rather than all three, orcould be input to another module that programs resistance of a selectedRRAM cell. In variations, the measurement circuit 124 and read senseamplifier 122 can be combined in a measurement circuit/read senseamplifier module 132. Write control 142 can be digital or analogfeedback or combined digital and analog feedback, in variousembodiments. For all of these versions, the write control 142, whetherdelivered as an analog signal or set of signals, or digital signal(s) ora parameter, adjusts the voltage expressed across the resistor 104 inthe RRAM cell, the current expressed through the resistor 104 in theRRAM cell, timing of one or more set or reset pulses, and/or the wordline voltage expressed on the transistor 106 in the RRAM cell (whichlimits the current through the transistor 106 and the resistor 104 inthe RRAM cell). In turn, the controlled, adjusted write conditionchanges the resistance, i.e., resistive state, of the resistor 104 inthe RRAM cell, and controls how little or how much that resistancechanges from the former state of the selected RRAM cell.

In various embodiments, the number of set pulses 136 or the number ofreset pulses 138 could be controlled, as could pulse width of set pulses136 or pulse width of reset pulses 138, the voltage of the set pulses136, i.e., V_(SL) for set pulses 136, the voltage of the reset pulses138, i.e., V_(SL) for reset pulses 138, and/or the word line voltageV_(WL) on word lines 108 or current limit I_(LIM). Any of theseconditions, or parameters for these conditions, could be controlledsingly, or two or more of these could be controlled in combination, asthe adjusted write condition, in various embodiments. For example,subjecting the selected RRAM cell to a longer set pulse, a greaternumber of set pulses, a greater voltage or a greater current could growor form more material into the resistive filament, producing a lowerresistance value for the LRS. Subjecting the selected RRAM cell to ashorter set pulse, a lesser number of set pulses, a lower voltage or alower current could grow or form less material into the resistivefilament, producing a higher resistance value for the LRS. Subjectingthe selected RRAM cell to a longer reset pulse, a greater number ofreset pulses, a greater voltage or greater current could more quickly ormore thoroughly break the resistive filament, producing a higherresistance value for the HRS. Subjecting the selected RRAM cell to ashorter reset pulse, a lesser number of reset pulses, a lower voltage ora lower current could less thoroughly or less completely break theresistive filament, producing a lower resistance value for the HRS.

For a given condition to be adjusted, the condition trends either in thesame direction or the opposite direction from whichever characteristicis measured as a proxy for resistance of the RRAM cell. Thus thedetermination of which way to adjust a given condition according to therelative value of the measured characteristic is specific to thecondition(s) to be adjusted and the choice of measured characteristic.An RRAM cell that should be in the HRS state but which has undesirablylow resistance, or that is in the LRS state to be written to the HRSstate but which has very low resistance even for the LRS state, shouldreceive an adjusted write condition to appropriately raise theresistance more so than such a cell that has a higher resistance. AnRRAM cell that should be in the LRS state but which has undesirably highresistance, or that is in the HRS state to be written to the LRS statebut which has very high resistance even for the HRS state should receivean adjusted write condition to appropriately lower the resistance moreso than such a cell that has a lower resistance.

In some embodiments, the selected RRAM cell is read, and then written toonly if the desired write value differs from the read value, i.e., onlywritten to change the programmed digital value of the RRAM cell. Inother embodiments, the selected RRAM cell is written to for the abovereasons and also in case of need of adjusting, trimming, “tuning up” orotherwise changing the resistance even if the write value is the same asthe read value for the RRAM cell.

FIG. 2 illustrates a current mirror 202 and current control 204 whichcan be used in the word line control 140 of FIG. 1. The current mirror202 reproduces or mirrors the current limit I_(LIM), controlled bycurrent limit control 304 I_(LIM) control (see FIG. 3) for the selectedmemory cell, i.e., the selected resistor 104 in the RRAM cell. Variousanalog circuits for current mirroring are readily devised. The currentcontrol 204 produces an output based on the current mirror 202, which isthen used for controlling current in the selected RRAM cell. In oneembodiment, the current control 204 produces the word line voltage,which is used for the selected word line from the word line drivers 120.

FIG. 3 illustrates an analog feedback circuit that controls word linevoltage in order to limit current in a selected RRAM cell, which can beused in embodiments of the RRAM array 102 with write control 142. Inthis embodiment, the read sense amplifier 122 (which could be thecombined measurement circuit/read sense amplifier 132) produces acurrent limit control 304 I_(LIM) control, which drives a controlledcurrent source 312. Controlled current source 312 produces the currentlimit I_(LIM). A transistor 306, in this version an NMOS FET connectedas a pseudo-diode is operated as a current mirror 202 to mirror thecurrent limit I_(LIM), with the gate of the FET (and therefore, gatevoltage) connected to a unity gain amplifier 308 to produce the wordline voltage 310 V_(WL). In some versions, the unity gain amplifier 308is omitted and the output of the current mirror (e.g., gate voltage ofthe FET) drives the word line voltage directly. With the selected wordline 108 driven by the word line voltage 310, current through theselected RRAM cell (and corresponding resistor 104 in the selected RRAMcell) is controlled and limited by the current limit I_(LIM) accordingto the controlled current source 312 as directed by the current limitcontrol 304. The word line voltage 310 thus provides the current control204 (see FIG. 2) to the gate of the transistor 106 in the selected RRAMcell, in various embodiments. Other mechanisms for controlling currentthrough the resistor 104 and the selected RRAM cell could be devised inkeeping with the teachings herein, for various transistor technologies.

In one embodiment, a high cell current 130 through the selected RRAMcell is a cell characteristic indicative of lower resistance of theresistor 104, and a low cell current 130 through the selected RRAM cellis a cell characteristic indicative of higher resistance of the resistor104. Current limit control 304 is adjusted accordingly, so that the nextwrite to the selected RRAM cell has an appropriate current limit basedon the resistance of the RRAM cell from the previous programmed state.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for variations of the write control system andcircuitry of FIGS. 1-3. The read sense amplifier 122 connects to theselected memory cell (e.g., RRAM cell, or other type of memory cell forother memory technologies), for example through multiplexing andselection logic, and generates the read value for the selected memorycell, based on cell current 130 and/or voltage of the selected memorycell during read conditions. A measurement circuit 124 similarlyconnects to the selected memory cell and/or connects to the read senseamplifier 122, and measures or determines a cell characteristic that isindicative of the resistance of the selected memory cell. This cellcharacteristic is, in various embodiments, a digital or analog valueequaling or proportional to cell current, cell voltage, ratio or inverseratio of cell voltage to cell current, or sense time for reading theRRAM cell. Output of the measurement circuit and, in some embodimentsoutput of the read sense amplifier, connects to the write conditionselector 402. Based on these inputs, the write condition selector 402selects (or adjusts) a write condition for the write driver 128. In someembodiments, a determining circuit 144 determines the write condition,based on a measurement relating to resistance of the selected memorycell, of a state previously written to the memory cell. The determiningcircuit 144 could include the write condition selector 402, and furtherinclude the measurement circuit 124 as shown in FIG. 4, the measurementcircuit/read sense amplifier module 132 as shown in FIG. 1, the lookuptable and logic as will be described with reference to FIG. 5, or otheranalog, digital or mixed circuitry as readily devised in keeping withthe teachings herein.

The write driver 128 includes a pulse generator 404 and a word linevoltage generator 406. Set pulses and reset pulses are produced by thepulse generator 404, with controlled voltage, pulse width and/or numberof pulses. Word line voltage is produced by the word line voltagegenerator 406, and controls or limits current in the selected memorycell. The write driver 128 is thus adjustable as to write condition,according to the write condition selector 402. Various embodiments havevarious combinations of the above features.

In one embodiment of the determining circuit 144 and the write driver128, an RRAM cell in a high resistance state but with resistance at thelower end of the HRS resistance range receives a weaker set conditionfrom the write driver 128. An RRAM cell in a high resistance state butwith resistance at the higher end of the HRS resistance range receives astronger set condition from the write driver 128. An RRAM cell in a lowresistance state but with resistance at the lower end of the LRSresistance range receives a stronger reset condition from the writedriver 128. And, an RRAM cell in a low resistance state but withresistance at the higher end of the LRS resistance range receives aweaker reset condition from the write driver 128.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for an analog-to-digital converter 502 anddigital circuitry that generates control signals for embodiments of thewrite control system. With reference back to FIG. 1, FIG. 5 showscircuitry for a lookup table-based embodiment that generates controlsignals for timing/pulse control 126 and/or write control 142, or othersignals that control and adjust the write condition for the selectedRRAM cell. The analog-to-digital converter 502 connects to the selectedmemory cell, for example through multiplexing and selection logic, andproduces a digital value for the measurement of the memory cellcharacteristic. For example, this could be a digital value for the cellcurrent 130 or cell voltage for the RRAM cell, or both. Digital logic506, which could include state machine, a controller, a processor, orlogic gates, accesses a lookup table 504 and produces control signalsfrom results of using the lookup table. The lookup table 504 could bepopulated with values for memory cell current, memory cell voltage,timing for the pulse generator 404 (see FIG. 4), word line voltage,current limit, etc., for values or ranges of values for the memory cellcharacteristic. Entries for the lookup table 504 could be determinedusing tester or laboratory characterization of RRAM cells, or developedor updated during operation of the RRAM array 102, e.g., usingheuristics, in various embodiments.

FIG. 6A is a flow diagram of a method for writing to an RRAM cell, whichcan be practiced by embodiments of the write control system. Analogversions, digital versions, and mixed analog and digital versions areenvisioned for performing the operations of the method.

In an operation 602, a cell characteristic of an RRAM cell isdetermined. The cell characteristic relates to resistance of the RRAMcell, and could be a measurement of, proportional to, or derived from,for example, cell current, cell voltage, cell resistance, sense time, orthe inverse of one of these. For example, measurement circuit 124 inFIG. 1 or FIG. 4 could measure cell current and/or cell voltage for theselected RRAM cell. The analog-to-digital converter 502 in FIG. 5 couldmeasure and convert one or more of the above-described characteristicsfrom an analog value to a digital value for use in digital circuitry, orthe analog value could be used in analog circuitry, or both.

In an operation 604, a write condition is selected for the RRAM cellbased on the cell characteristic. The write condition could be derivedby analog feedback as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, digital calculation,look up in a lookup table as shown in FIG. 5, or combination, forexample. The write condition could be a voltage polarity, a voltagelevel, a timing of a pulse, the timing of multiple pulses, the number ofpulses, a current or a current limit, for writing to the RRAM cell, or acombination thereof. Examples of pulse voltage, width and number areshown in FIG. 4. Current and current limit for the RRAM cell, andmechanisms for controlling current, are shown in FIGS. 1-4.

In an operation 606, the RRAM cell is written to, using the selectedwrite condition. For example, the write condition could be used forcontrolling one or more pulses from a pulse generator as shown in FIG.4, voltage or current to the selected RRAM cell, word line voltage asshown in FIGS. 1-4, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 6B is a flow diagram of a further method for writing to an RRAMcell, which can be practiced by embodiments of the write control system.This method is used for determining a cell characteristic of an RRAMcell.

In an operation 608, a current is driven through the RRAM cell. Forexample, the current could be supplied by a read sense amplifier thatapplies a read voltage to the RRAM cell, or otherwise provides or drivesa current through the selected RRAM cell. In some embodiments, cellresistance determines the current that may be supplied by the senseamplifier. See for example the read sense amplifier 122 in FIGS. 1, 3and 4.

In an operation 610, the current or the voltage of the RRAM cell issensed. For example, the current or voltage could be sensed by the readsense amplifier, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

In an operation 612, a data read value of the RRAM cell is produced, asshown in FIG. 4. The data read value is produced based on sensing thecurrent or voltage of the RRAM cell in the operation 610.

In an operation 614, the current or voltage is measured, to determinethe cell characteristic. The measurement should be to a finer resolutionthan the read value. For example, a measurement circuit such as shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, an analog-to-digital converter 502 as shown in FIG. 5, orcombined measurement circuit/read sense amplifier 132 as shown in FIG. 1could be used.

FIG. 6C is a flow diagram of a further method for writing to an RRAMcell, which can be practiced by embodiments of the write control system.This method is used for determining a cell characteristic of an RRAMcell, in further embodiments.

In an operation 616, current or voltage of the RRAM cell is sensed. Forexample, the current or voltage could be sensed by the read senseamplifier. The read sense amplifier is shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

In an operation 618, a data read value of the RRAM cell is determined.For example, the data read value can be determined by the read senseamplifier as shown in FIG. 4.

In an operation 620, the sense time for the RRAM cell is measured.Measurement of sense time could be performed by the read senseamplifier, or by a measurement circuit. Sense time for reading the RRAMcell is described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. Sense time, in someembodiments, can be defined as the response time of the read senseamplifier to determine the characteristic or state of the cell that isread using specific conditions. As an example, one type of senseamplifier may bias the bitline/cell to a read voltage and compare theresulting current to a reference current with the difference in currentcharging or discharging a node to trigger an output node change. Thisembodiment is to use this time or delay to feed back to determine thewrite conditions.

In an operation 622, the cell characteristic is determined, based on thesense time and the data read value. One embodiment omits the operation618, and determines the write condition (in operation 622) only on thesense time of the cell.

FIG. 6D is a flow diagram of a further method for writing to an RRAMcell, which can be practiced by embodiments of the write control system.This method is used for controlling the write condition for the RRAMcell.

In an operation 624, the voltage or current of the RRAM cell is sensed.For example, the voltage or current to be sensed by the read senseamplifier. The read sense amplifier is shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

In an operation 626, one or more pulses are generated, for writing tothe RRAM cell. The one or more pulses are controlled based on the sensedvoltage or current of the RRAM cell. Set and reset pulses with timingand pulse control are shown in FIG. 1, and a pulse generator that couldbe suitably controlled is shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6E is a flow diagram of a further method for writing to an RRAMcell, which can be practiced by embodiments of the write control system.This method is an embodiment of dependency of the write condition on thecell characteristic of the RRAM cell.

In a decision operation 628, it is determined whether the selected RRAMcell is in a high resistance state. If the RRAM cell is in a highresistance state, flow proceeds to the decision operation 630. If theRRAM cell is in a low resistance state, flow proceeds to the decisionoperation 636.

In a decision operation 630, it is determined whether the resistance ofthe selected RRAM cell in the high resistance state is relatively loweror higher. If the resistance is lower, e.g., than a threshold, flowproceeds to the operation 632. If the resistance is higher, flowproceeds to the operation 634. Relative resistance can be determined byproxy, through the measured cell characteristic.

In the decision operation 636, it is determined whether the resistanceof the selected RRAM cell in the low resistance state is relativelylower or higher. If the resistance is lower, e.g., than a threshold,flow proceeds to the operation 638. If the resistance is higher, flowproceeds to the operation 640.

In an operation 632, a high resistance state RRAM cell that has lowerresistance is written to using weaker set condition(s).

In an operation 634, a high resistance state RRAM cell that has higherresistance is written to using stronger set condition(s).

In an operation 638, a low resistance state RRAM cell that has lowerresistance is written to using stronger reset condition(s).

In an operation 640, a low resistance state RRAM cell that has higherresistance is written to using weaker reset condition(s).

The above description of illustrated embodiments of the disclosure,including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed.While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the disclosure aredescribed herein for illustrative purposes, various equivalentmodifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as thoseskilled in the relevant art will recognize. Other embodiments may havelayers in different orders, additional layers or fewer layers than theillustrated embodiments.

Various operations are described as multiple discrete operations, inturn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the presentdisclosure, however, the order of description should not be construed toimply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. Inparticular, these operations need not be performed in the order ofpresentation.

The terms “over,” “above” “under,” “between,” and “on” as used hereinrefer to a relative position of one material layer or component withrespect to other layers or components. For example, one layer depositedabove or over or under another layer may be directly in contact with theother layer or may have one or more intervening layers. Moreover, onelayer deposited between two layers may be directly in contact with thetwo layers or may have one or more intervening layers. In contrast, afirst layer “on” a second layer is in direct contact with that secondlayer. Similarly, unless explicitly stated otherwise, one featuredeposited between two features may be in direct contact with theadjacent features or may have one or more intervening layers.

The words “example” or “exemplary” are used herein to mean serving as anexample, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design describedherein as “example’ or “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use ofthe words “example” or “exemplary” is intended to present concepts in aconcrete fashion. As used in this application, the term “or” is intendedto mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unlessspecified otherwise, or clear from context, “X includes A or B” isintended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, ifX includes A; X includes B; or X includes both A and B, then “X includesA or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition,the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appendedclaims may generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specifiedotherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.Moreover, use of the term “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” or “one embodiment” throughout is not intended to mean thesame embodiment or embodiment unless described as such. The terms“first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” etc. as used herein are meant aslabels to distinguish among different elements and may not necessarilyhave an ordinal meaning according to their numerical designation.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic circuit of a memory device,comprising: a determining circuit to determine a write condition for aresistive random access memory (RRAM) cell based on a measurementrelating to resistance of the RRAM cell of a state previously written tothe RRAM cell, the measurement to a finer resolution than a data readvalue of the RRAM cell; and a write driver, operatively coupled with thedetermining circuit, to write to the RRAM cell based on the determinedwrite condition.
 2. The electronic circuit of the memory device of claim1, wherein the determining circuit to determine the write conditioncomprises the determining circuit to generate a signal representing avalue to be used for the write condition.
 3. The electronic circuit ofthe memory device of claim 1, wherein the determining circuit todetermine the write condition comprises the determining circuit togenerate a signal representing which of multiple available values are tobe used for the write condition.
 4. The electronic circuit of the memorydevice of claim 1, wherein the determining circuit to determine thewrite condition comprises the determining circuit to generate a changein value to be used for the write condition.
 5. The electronic circuitof the memory device of claim 1, wherein: the RRAM cell is to store abinary value; and the measurement relating to the resistance of the RRAMcell is to a value that has three or more possible values as measured.6. The electronic circuit of the memory device of claim 1, furthercomprising a measurement circuit to obtain the measurement to resistanceof the RRAM cell.
 7. The electronic circuit of the memory device ofclaim 1, wherein: the RRAM cell is a single level cell (SLC); the dataread value is one bit; and the cell characteristic is an analog value ora digital value having greater than one bit.
 8. The electronic circuitof the memory device of claim 1, wherein: the RRAM cell is a multilevelcell (MLC); and the data read value is two or more bits.
 9. Theelectronic circuit of the memory device of claim 1, wherein the writecondition comprises one of a voltage polarity, a voltage level, a timingof a pulse, a timing of a plurality of pulses, a number of pulses, or acurrent limit.
 10. The electronic circuit of the memory device of claim1, wherein the measurement comprises one of a RRAM cell current, a RRAMcell voltage, a RRAM cell resistance, or a sense time for the RRAM cell.11. The electronic circuit of the memory device of claim 1, wherein: thedata read value comprises a number of bits for the RRAM cell; and themeasurement comprises an analog value or a digital value having a numberof bits greater than the number of bits for the data read value of theRRAM cell.
 12. The electronic circuit of the memory device of claim 1,wherein the write condition for the RRAM cell is based on both themeasurement and the data read value, of the RRAM cell.
 13. Theelectronic circuit of the memory device of claim 1, wherein the writedriver is to: write to the RRAM cell using weaker set conditions whenthe RRAM cell is a high resistance state (HRS) RRAM cell with lowerresistance; write to the RRAM cell using stronger set conditions whenthe RRAM cell is a high resistance state (HRS) RRAM cell with higherresistance; write to the RRAM cell using stronger reset conditions whenthe RRAM cell is a low resistance state (LRS) RRAM cell with lowerresistance; and write to the RRAM cell using weaker reset conditionswhen the RRAM cell is a low resistance state (LRS) RRAM cell with higherresistance.
 14. The electronic circuit of the memory device of claim 1,further comprising: a lookup table, to look up the write condition basedon the measurement.
 15. The electronic circuit of the memory device ofclaim 1, further comprising an analog circuit to control RRAM cell writecurrent via word line voltage control, based on read sense amplifieroperation.
 16. An electronic circuit of a memory device, comprising:means for determining a cell condition for an RRAM cell based on ameasured indication of a resistance of the RRAM cell of a statepreviously written to the RRAM cell; and write circuitry to write to theRRAM cell using a write condition based on the determined cellcondition.
 17. The electronic circuit of the memory device of claim 16,wherein: the means for determining the cell condition comprises ameasurement circuit to determine the measured indication of theresistance of the RRAM cell to finer resolution than a data read valueof the RRAM cell; and the write circuitry comprises an adjustable writedriver to adjust the write condition for the RRAM cell, based on thedetermined cell condition, and to write to the RRAM cell using the writecondition so adjusted.
 18. The electronic circuit of the memory deviceof claim 16, wherein: the write condition comprises: voltage level,timing, or current limit of one or more pulses for writing to the RRAMcell; and the measured indication comprises a sense time from a senseamplifier, or a current, voltage or resistance of the RRAM cell, from ameasurement circuit.
 19. A method, comprising: determining a cellcharacteristic of a resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell, to afiner resolution than a data read value; selecting a write condition forthe RRAM cell, based on the cell characteristic; and writing to the RRAMcell, using the selected write condition.
 20. The method of claim 19,further comprising: driving a current through the RRAM cell and sensingthe current or a voltage to read the RRAM cell and produce the data readvalue, wherein the determining the cell characteristic comprisesmeasuring at least one of the current or the voltage.
 21. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising: sensing a current or a voltage of the RRAMcell to read the RRAM cell and determine the data read value; andwherein the determining the cell characteristic comprises: measuring asense time for the sensing; and determining the data read value for theRRAM cell.
 22. The method of claim 19, wherein: the RRAM cell is asingle level cell (SLC); the data read value is one bit; and the cellcharacteristic is an analog value or a digital value having greater thanone bit.
 23. The method of claim 19, wherein: the RRAM cell is amultilevel cell (MLC); the data read value is a number of bits greaterthan or equal to two; and the cell characteristic comprises an analogvalue or a digital value having a number of bits greater than the numberof bits of the data read value.
 24. The method of claim 19, wherein theselecting the write condition and the writing to the RRAM cell comprise:generating one or more pulses with voltage, current, pulse width ornumber of pulses, for writing to the RRAM cell, controlled based on asensed voltage or current of the RRAM cell.
 25. The method of claim 19,wherein the writing to the RRAM cell, using the selected writecondition, relative to further writes to further RRAM cells, comprisesone of: writing to a high resistance state (HRS) RRAM cell having lowerresistance using weaker set conditions; writing to a high resistancestate (HRS) RRAM cell having higher resistance using stronger setconditions; writing to a low resistance state (LRS) RRAM cell havinglower resistance using stronger reset conditions; or writing to a lowresistance state (LRS) RRAM cell having higher resistance using weakerreset conditions.